The new school year brings a variety of entertaining events, including Advanced Theatre’s highly anticipated Sleepy Hollow, which is currently in the process of perfecting. In this production, junior Charlotte Li will be playing the witty comedic relief Elizabeth Van Ripper, and you can catch her along with many other Advanced Theatre students on Nov. 16, 17, and 18.
The upcoming production’s name may ring a bell from 11th grade English class, but Li ensures that there are twists and turns that will keep you on your feet all throughout the performance.
“We’re making really good progress on blocking…everyone is super productive and it’s a really positive community,” Li shared.
Initially, Li started her theater career at Centerstage, a production program that offers vocal and acting lessons, in addition to musicals and plays. As a 6-year-old, she starred in Grease Jr. as Sandy Olsson. Years went by and she also acted in their other productions such as The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, before making her Arcadia Stage debut as young Cosette in their adaptation of Les Miserables in 2019.
“I really liked to sing,” Li recalled. “With that and my bold personality, I decided that theater would be the way for me since I could showcase my abilities.”
Throughout middle school, Li continued to star in other musicals like Honk Jr. and A Christmas Story, before all of the schools went into lockdown in early 2020. Li admitted that coming back after such a tumultuous break was difficult.
“There was a point in time after quarantine where I was really self-conscious about myself and hated taking off my mask, which made me really insecure to perform,” Li confessed. “I also ran into a conflict because performing was the only thing making me happy at the time.”
When schools transitioned from online back to in-person, it was common for students to feel shy or uncomfortable. But having to readjust herself, especially to an environment like the performing arts that heavily relies on confidence and performance, was an additional struggle for Li. Despite this crucial obstacle she had to overcome, Li acknowledged that because of the community she had built with her fellow theater classmates, she was eventually able to regain that courage she had once possessed.
Aside from Li’s passion for performing, she revealed that throughout her years at Arcadia High School (AHS), the connections she had made with all her castmates held a stronger purpose than the actual performances themselves.
“When I’m having a terrible day, regardless of what we’re doing, I know I’ll feel better after rehearsal where I get to spend hours with some of the sweetest people and I’m very grateful for that opportunity,” Li added
As a final note, Li urged people to always step out of their comfort zones because just like her, you might be holding yourself back from the possibilities and opportunities you could achieve.
Photo courtesy of Arcadia Stage
